Page 33 - the-iliad

are brave, and who are cowards; for they will vie against the
other. Thus you shall also learn whether it is through the
counsel of heaven or the cowardice of man that you shall
fail to take the town.’
And Agamemnon answered, ‘Nestor, you have again
outdone the sons of the Achaeans in counsel. Would, by
Father Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, that I had among them
ten more such councillors, for the city of King Priam would
then soon fall beneath our hands, and we should sack it. But
the son of Saturn afflicts me with bootless wranglings and
strife. Achilles and I are quarrelling about this girl, in which
matter I was the first to offend; if we can be of one mind
again, the Trojans will not stave off destruction for a day.
Now, therefore, get your morning meal, that our hosts join
in fight. Whet well your spears; see well to the ordering of
your shields; give good feeds to your horses, and look your
chariots carefully over, that we may do battle the livelong
day; for we shall have no rest, not for a moment, till night
falls to part us. The bands that bear your shields shall be wet
with the sweat upon your shoulders, your hands shall weary
upon your spears, your horses shall steam in front of your
chariots, and if I see any man shirking the fight, or trying
to keep out of it at the ships, there shall be no help for him,
but he shall be a prey to dogs and vultures.’
Thus he spoke, and the Achaeans roared applause. As
when the waves run high before the blast of the south wind
and break on some lofty headland, dashing against it and
buffeting it without ceasing, as the storms from every quar-
ter drive them, even so did the Achaeans rise and hurry in

The Iliad